Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources Issue 1, May 2013

SNAKE BITES Ko’ko’ for Cocos

Guam Rail – Photo credit D. Vice USDA/APHIS

“Ko’ko’ for Cocos” is an effort to establish a breeding population of Guam rails in a snake-free environment. Cocos Island has native trees and is cat, rodent, and snake-free creating a good habitat for the ko’ko’ to thrive in. Twenty-six Guam rails were introduced on Cocos Island between 2010 and 2012. The rails are successfully reproducing on Cocos Island - fifteen nests and 12 chicks have been observed. Two adult rails, offspring of the released birds, were captured, fitted with ID bands and released. The chance of seeing the endangered ko'ko' in the wild is increasing every day!

Cocos Island also provides a public venue for outreach activities regarding conservation of Guam rails and invasive species control. The Cocos Island Guam rail project demonstrates the potential for recovery of Guam’s natural heritage through invasive species control and biosecurity.

Issue 1, May 2013

Highlights

Black T-shirt Campaign

Si Yu'us Må'åse' Tun Santos. Your support of native wildlife makes a difference.

Brown Treesnake Bootcamp – Cocos Island Resort hosted high school and elementary students to learn about BTS and their impacts on Guam.

Future camps and workshops are planned.

Guam Rail – Photo credit D. Vice USDA/APHIS

Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources Issue 1, May 2013

Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources

163 Dairy Road Mangilao, Guam 96913

Phone: (671) 735-3955/56 Fax: (671) 734-6570

New Addition to the Team

DAWR is committed to the conservation of Guam's precious natural resources.

Kontra I Kulepbla Challenge the Brown Treesnake

1

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis, BTS) is an invasive predator and pest that was accidentally introduced to Guam. It has had devastating impacts on native wildlife populations. The snake is responsible for declines in Guam's native forest birds, lizards and fruit bat colonies, as well as losses in agriculture and domestic pets. Snakes crawling on electrical lines frequently cause power outages and damage electrical equipment. Although not a risk to healthy adults, interactions with small children and babies have resulted in hospitalization.

Eradication of snakes on the island of Guam is currently not feasible. However, reduction in discrete locations is possible. At present, the best management strategy is to keep brown treesnakes from becoming established in new locations. To reduce the risk of snakes dispersing from Guam, trapping and visual searches are conducted in and around high-risk locations such as port facilities and cargo loading areas.

2

Large-scale population suppression across broad landscapes will reduce impacts of BTS to Guam residents and support efforts to prevent the spread of the snake to other Micronesian islands. However, it will not be feasible without the support of Guam residents.

Kontra I Kulepbla is a campaign geared towards raising awareness of the benefits of snake suppression, gaining public support for BTS projects on Guam, and promoting behaviors that sustain snake suppression. The Wildlife Section of Guam Department of Agriculture will give talks, workshops and promote public events to inform the public on natural history as well as current tools and technology to “challenge the snake”.

DAWR is pleased to welcome Julie Anne Duay, a new Wildlife Biologist for the Department of Agriculture. Previously, she worked at the University of Guam Entomology Department. Julie received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology at the University of Guam in 2009 and graduated in Spring 2013 with a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science. Julie will be working with conservation education and awareness programs for schools and implementing the Cocos Island Biosecurity Plan. She is motived and eager to help make a difference in our island.

Welcome aboard, Julie!

DAWR Snake Trap